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HISTORY OF THE CORPORATION 



OF THE ^ 

I^eform^d Dijtel7 (^l7iJr(;l7 I 

S 

OF THE n 



TOWN OF BROOKLYN, 



tKnowiT. as the F^irst Reformed. Dutch Church. ) 



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HISTORY 



iorporation of %' l^efornied Butcb Sliurch 



TOWN OF BROOKLYN, 



( Kno^pvn as ttie F^irst Reformed Diatcti Chiarch.) 



By A. J. BE&KMAN. 



COMPILED FROM THE ORIGINAL RECORDS. 



PKKSa OF BRnOKI.YN KAOI.K. 



o,5^-b 



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I'lRST KEFORMI 



1) DcTcn Chirch i)F Brooklyn, N. \. 



PREFACE. 

The compiler of this History removed from New York to Brooklyn 
in April, 1828, and immediately identified himself with this Church, 
and has been connected with it most of the time since. He has 
been a member of it longer than any male member for many years. 
He was Clerk of its Consistory for a long time, and also its 
Treasurer for years ; was associated with its old members, and 
obtained from General Johnson, personally, many facts, which he 
has incorporated in these pages. He has submitted this manuscript 
to the Hon. Benjamin D. Silliman (the oldest male attendant of 
the Church), who pronounces it correct. 

He had access to all the minutes of the Consistory, and has 
noted, from time to time, all facts which he thought would be 
important in the History, and submits it to the members of the 
Church and congregation, and others, what he thinks will be the 
most complete history of the Church that has ever been published. 
He has availed himself of the translations of its history by the 
late Hon. Teunis G. Bergen, and had many intercourses with 
him in regard to the subject, and received from him much per- 
sonal information of how he obtained the facts. 



HISTORY 



First REPeRMED Butch Shurch 



OK BROOKlIvYN. 

That a grant of land for this Church was made by the Provincial 
Governor and Council as early as the grants to the churches at Midwout 
(Flatbush) and Amersfordt (Flatlands), there is no doubt, and that 
it was on the site of the first Church appears from the following : 

In the orginal records at Albany, in the Dutch language, certain 
leaves are torn out, which were spoken of by Dr. C. D. Westbrook, 
the translator. 

In the records of the Council in 1656, a grant was made of Morgens 
on the west side of the burial ground, and in 1657, of Morgens on the 
east side of the burial ground, and Gen. Jeremiah Johnson, in the 
paper prepared in 1834, to put in the corner-stone, which was recently 
taken up, said, " From tradition we learn that a place for Divine worship 
was prepared before the first Church was built, on the stone foundation 
of a Fort, which had been erected to protect the earlier settlers against 
Indians." 

And in Domine Selyns' letter to the Classis of Amsterdam, dated 
October 4, 1660, he says : "We do not preach in a Church, but in a 
barn." And in the original records of the Church is the following 

TRANSLATION: 

Ancke Jans made application to the Consistory of the Reformed 
Dutch Church, of Brooklyn, for permission to enclose the grave of his 
deceased wife (Magdalen) with a fence, to prevent the swine from 
rooting up the grave. The application was referred to Rev. Henry 
Selyns and the Deacon Jacob Jorsin, with instructions to have the 



burial ground fenced as soon as possible. Whereupon the Rev. 
Henry Selyns and Jacob Jorison contracted with Ancke Jans to en- 
close the burial ground with a good clapboard fence, five foot high, 
and to make a good board gate, and frontispiece for the entrance, for 
which they were to pay him seventy guilders. 

Dated October 25, 1662. (Signed) 

Ancke Jans. 

In 1654 the Rev. Johannes Theodorus Polhemus came from Itamarca 
in Brazil, where he had been laboring as a missionary. He was a de- 
scendant of an ancient and respectable family in the Netherlands, and 
commenced preaching in Brooklyn, Flatbush and Flallands in that year 
— in the morning, in Flatbush, and alternating in Flatlands and Brook- 
lyn in the afternoon. The people of Brooklyn were not satisfied with 
this arrangement, and in the Fall of 1658 a letter was sent to the Classis 
of Amsterdam, asking that a good Dutch clergyman might speedily be 
sent over to America. 

On the 1 6th of February, 1660, the Rev. Henricus Selyns was ex- 
amined by the Classis and admitted to the ministry, accepting at the 
same time a call from the Church of Brooklyn to serve them for four 
years. The approbation of the Directors of the West India Company 
was granted March 27th, 1660, and about this time, in company of 
Rev. HermanQs Blom, who was afterward settled at Esopus, now Kings- 
ton, he sailed for America. On their arrival here they presented to the 
Governor their letters, who issued a protocol on the ^th of Septem- 
ber, 1660, and appointed two of his principal officers, Nicasius de Sille, 
a member of the Council, a man of no mean attainments and well found- 
ed in the law, and Martin Krigier, Burgomaster of New Amsterdam, to 
attend to the installation. He had preached for them the first time on 
the 30th of August, 1660, but met them for the first time as their pas- 
tor on the 7th of September, 1660. The following is a literal transla- 
tion of the protocol, made by Doctor P. H. Vander Weyde, the organ- 
ist of this Church : 

Protocol of the' Church Council of Breukelen. — September 
5,1660: The congregation of Bruekelen having requested the Hon. 
Director-General and Council (for the reason of the difficulty of the 
road from Breukelen to Midwout (Flatbush), and the high age of the 
Reverent Dominie Johannes Polhemus, to whom it is a heavy task) to 



have a preacher for themselves to the promotion of true religion and 
edification ; and as the request was reasonable, it was expected it would 
be granted as soon as the proper knowledge of the circumstances was 
given to the Hon. " Autorities " (authorities) ; and according to the re- 
quest mentioned, having obtained the person of Henricus Selyns to 
promulgate the Gospel and serve the Sacraments — his honor theDiiec- 
tor-General has, after different " conferenties " (conferences), and a pro- 
per contract with the Deputies of Breukelen, sent the said preacher in 
company of the Hon. Deputies, the Hon. Nicasius de Sille, Fiscal 
Council of New Netherlands, the Hon. Martin Krigier, Burgher of New 
Amsterdam in New Netherlands, to be presented to the congregation, 
and to be confirmed as their preacher with the following letter : 

Honorable Dearly Beloved : This short and open letter serves 
only as an introduction to the bearer, the Rev. Do. Henricus Selyns, 
by the Government of Amsterdam at your request, he having accepted 
the calling of Preacher and all other duties depending thereon in the 
Village of Breukelen. We recommend you to receive him affection- 
ately, and keep in respect, honor, and love ; to attend with diligence 
the services he will conduct ; to procure him according to your prom- 
ise decent and comfortable lodgings, so as to honor God in His service, 
and prepare you more and more for eternal happiness, for which God 
alone will grant His blessing. I close in recommending you one and 
all in God's care and protection, and remain 

Your well-wishing friend and Governor, 

(Signed), P. Stuyvesant. 

[Given in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherlands, Anno 1660, Sept. 3] 

After the letter was read by the mentioned Fiscal Council to the 
Consistory and Schepens of Breukelen, the Consistory and Schepens 
thanked the Governor and his Deputies, and accepted the said Hen- 
ricus Selyns for their legal pastor, who then went with said deputies 
to give his inaugural sermon, declaring his affection towards the 
congregration nevvly intrusted to his care. (See page 140, vol. I., 
" Stiles's History of Brooklyn.") 

On the 1 2th of September, i66o, he received from Dominie Pol- 
hemus a list of members, consisting of one elder, two deacons, and 
twenty-four members, thirty-one householders, and one hundred and 
thirty-four persons. Under the ministry of Do. Selyns the church 
increased so that in 1661 there were fifty-two communicants. In 
1664 his time having expired, he at the urgent solicitation of his 



lO 

aged father was most tenderly and affectionately dismissed from his 
charge, and on the 23d of July sailed for Holland in the ship BeaveVy 
the same which brought him to America. 

After his departure Charles Debevoise, the schoolmaster of the 
town, who was the church sexton, was authorized to read prayers and a 
sermon from some approved author each Sabbath in the Church, 
for the improvement of the congregation, until another minister could 
be found. The Revs. ATegapoknsis and Drisius of New York, and 
Polhemus of Flatbush, administered the ordinances and occasionally 
preached until May, 1670, when the Rev. Mr. Polhemus was so far 
restored to health that he preached again in Brooklyn in connection 
with his own congregation? until his death, which occurred June 9th, 1676. 

The first Church was built on the road what is now Fulton street, 
between Lawrence and Bridge streets. It stood in the middle of the 
road, unprotected on either side, with burial ground on the west. It 
stood for 100 years, and was built on the walls of a stone fort which 
had been erected to protect the first European settlers from the 
Indians. There has been no plan or picture of this Church preserved. 

The second Church was built on the same spot, a plan of which has 
been preserved, and is shown in " Stiles's History of Brooklyn," Vol. I., 
page 192. 

It was described as a large square edifice, with solid and very thick 
walls, plastered and whitewashed on every side up to the eaves ; the 
roof, as usual in those days, ascending to the peak in the centre, capped 
with an open belfry, in which hung a sharp toned bell brought from 
Holland, which bell as late as 1840 was hanging in District School 
in Middagh street. 

The Church is described as follows : " Its interior was plain, dark 
and very gloomy, so that in Summer one could not see to read in it 
after four o'clock in the afternoon, by reason of its small windows. 
These were six or eight feet from the floor, and filled with stained glass 
lights brought from Holland, representing vines, loaded with flowers. 
This Church, like the first, stood in the middle of the road leading from 
the ferry into the country. 

On the 28th June, 1805, the corporation of this Church purchased 
from John Jackson the property on which the recent Church stood, 



1 1 

the deed for which is recorded in Liber 9, pages 301 and 302 of Kings 
County Records. 

In 1807 the third Church was built on this property, which is now 
Joralemon street, in the rear of the City Hall. It was described as 
being built of blue stone, of heavy walls, plastered and painted a dark 
lead color, a tower on the eastern front, standing near to the road or 
street, with two aisles, gallery on three sides, and but limited accommo- 
dation. The corner-stone was laid May 15, 1807, by the Rev. Peter 
Lowe, and the building was so far completed that it was dedicated 
on the 23d December, 1807, by the Rev. J. H. Livingston, preaching 
from the text Heb., 4 chap., 12 verse. The building cost $13,- 
745-53- The congregation came mostly from the country, in their 
long green wagons, and of course could only be expected to attend the 
morning service. The following list of persons has been found, and 
are supposed to be part of those families that attended the Church 
about 1810 to 1820: 

From Bedford— Abraham De Bevoise, Lambert Suydam, Leffert 
Lefferts and others; from the Wallabout— Jeremiah Johnson, Abraham 
A. and Jeremiah Remsen, Martin and Jacob Schenck, Martin and 
Jacob Ryerson and others; from Cripplebush - Folkert Raplye, 
Francis Skillman, Michael Vandervoort and others; from Gowanus 
— John C. Freeke, Nehemiah Denton, Thomas Tiebout, Theodorous 
Polhemus, Adolphus Brower, Adrian and Jacques Cortleyou, Cornelius 
Van Brunt, Peter Wyckoff, Walter Berry, Michael, Peter, Simon and 
Garret Bergen, the Bennets, Van Pelts and others : from Red Hook — 
Rynier Suydam, Jacob Bergen, the Van Dykes and others; from 
Brooklyn — Teunis Joralemon, Samuel Smith, Adrian Hegeman, John 
Moon, Abraham Vanderveer and others. 

To accommodate the inhabitants of the village, a chapel was put up 
on Middagh street in which the evening services were held, a notice 
of which was published in the Long Island Star, November 13, 181 1, 
which said : " An elegant but small new house for the congregation of 
the Reformed Dutch Church of Brooklyn was opened Sabbath even- 
ing last by the Rev. S. S. Woodhull, who preached from the text, Mat- 
thew, chap. 23, verse 20." This building was sold some years after, 
and was occupied by Public School No. 6. During the pastorate of 



12 

Rev. S. S. Woodhull lots were bought on the [corner of Nassau and 
Washington streets, and a parsonage built, which was occupied by him 
until his removal to New Brunswick, N. J. 

In the minutes of Consistory, June 3, 1833, it was: Resolved, That 
a Committee be appointed to take into consideration the present situa- 
tion of our Church and congregation, and advise with the people who 
belong to us and who desire to be connected with us, and that the Com- 
mittee report what measures ought to be taken to provide accommoda- 
tions for all persons and families, who desire to be connected with us. 

The Committee recommended that a subscription list be circulated 
for the erection of a new Church. A Committee circulated subscrip- 
tions, and enough was subscribed to warrant the commencement of 
building the fourth Church. A Building Committee was then appointed, 
and the corner stone was laid on the 22d of May, 1834. It was laid by 
Abraham A. Remsen, the Senior Elder, and addresses were made by 
the Rev. Maurice W. Dwight, the pastor, and by the Rev. Thomas De- 
Witt, D.D., of the Collegiate Church of New York. John Skillman, 
Adrian Hegeman, Cornelius Van Cleef and Peter Wyckoff were Elders ; 
Teunis Johnson, Adriance A^an Brunt, Abraham Suydam and Henry 
Reed were Deacons. The Building Committee were Jeremiah Johnson, 
Leffert Lefferts, Samuel Smith, John S. Bergen, John Skillman, Garret 
Bergen, Theodorus Polhemus and John Schenck. Lefever & Gal- 
lager, architects ; Tompkins & McFarlan, masons ; Young, Reeve 
& Dimon, carpenters. 

The papers and books placed in the corner stone were : 

A History of the Church from its formation, prepared by Jeremiah Johnson, Clerk 

of the Consistory and Chairman of the Building Committee. 
The Minutes of the last General and Particular Synods of the Reformed Dutch 

Church. 
The last Annual Report of the Sunday-schools of Kings County. 
A Temperance Almanac. 
A copy of the " Reformed Dutch Church Magazine." 
Two Sermons preached in Kentucky. 
The present Constitution of the Reformed Dutch Church. 
A Tract. 
Woods' History of Long Island. 
Furman's Notes of Brooklyn. 
Copy of a Lecture delivered at the Lyceum. 



13 

The Charter of the City of, Brooklyn, with the reports and petitions against the 

same. 

A copy of the "Long Island Star" and " Brooklyn Advocate," and of the 

" Christian Intelligencer.' 

A Pardon by Gen. Howe in 1777 to an American Officer. 

A Magdalen Report. 

(Signed) Jeremiah Johnson, 

Chairman. 

The Churcii was so far finished, that it was dedicated on the 7th of 
May, 1835, the members of the Classis of Long Island all being pre- 
sent. In 1853 General Johnson, who had been the Clerk of the Con- 
sistory for fifty years, tendered his resignation. 

The first Sabbath-schools in Brooklyn were established about 1815. 
A public meeting was called for March 27, 18 16, to be held in Mr. 
Evan Eeynon's school room, at " which Christians of every denomina- 
tion in Brooklyn, all who are advocates for decency and order, and all 
who are friends to the promulgation of the fundamental truths of our 
common religion," are invited to attend. The "Brooklyn Sunday- 
school Union Society " was organized on the 8th of April, and Abraham 
Remsen of this Church was appointed one of the vice-presidents, and 
David Anderson, also of this Church, one of the managers. Abraham 
Vanderveer was one of the first teachers in this Union school. 

In 1819, Nehemiah Denton, Esq., established a Sunday-school for col- 
ored people in the kitchen of his dwelling, which continued for several 
years, but was afterward removed to a small school room, which stood on 
the corner of Gowanus lane and the Post road. Soon after, schools were 
started in the school house at lower Gowanus, at Bedford, and at the 
Wallabout. In June, 1828, a meeting was called to take into considera- 
tion the establishing of a Sunday-school in the lecture room, which was 
then building on the northwest corner of the church lot, to which meet- 
ing John C. Freeke, Esq., was called to the chair, and Abraham J. Beek- 
man was made Secretary. It was then resolved that it was expedient 
to organize a Sunday-school, as soon as possible and an adjourned 
meeting was held soon after, at which Adrian Hegeman was elected 
Superintendent; Samuel Smith and Martinus Schoonmaker, Assistants, 
and Mrs. Mary Van Brunt and Miss Harriet Silliman, Female Super- 
intendents; Thomas Hegeman, Secretary; the Misses Olcott, the 



14 

Misses Moon, the Misses Silliman, and others, female teachers ; John 
D. and Archibald T. Lawrence, James Duffield, A. J. Beekman, John 
D. Prince, and others, male teachers. Adrian Hegeman remained 
Superintendent until 1839, when he left to unite with the Second or 
Central Reformed Dutch Church. The Consistory selected A. J. 
Beekman to succeed him, and the Superintendents have since been 
John L. Vandewater, Samuel Sloan, James McMillan, S. G. Wheeler, 
Robert Thome, H. D. Van Orden, Merwin Rushmore, W. H. Dike, 
Frederick B. Schenck and others. The school was continued in this 
lecture room until it was taken down, when it was removed to the new 
lecture room on the east side of the Church, and has been continued 
in these rooms and in the Polytecnic Institute until the present. 

A mission school was founded on Atlantic street in 1848, and also in 
Smith, corner Butler street, and in 1869 in Jones' building, opposite the 
Court House, with George G. Brinkerhoff as Superintendent, Adam 
R. Gray, Rob Yellowlee, and others, assisting him. In 187 1 the Cen- 
tennial Chapel on Wyckofif street, near Third avenue, was built, to 
which the school was removed, where preaching services were also held 
Sabbath evenings by the Rev. J. G. Bass, the City Missionary, after- 
ward by Rev. A. N. Wyckoff, Rev. J. H. Callen, D.D., and where 
there is now a large and flourishing Sabbath-school conducted by Mr. 
Shelley, Superintendent, and a large number of teachers. 

The Church has now in use two silver cups, which was given by 
Maria Baddiaon the 3d of October, 1684, which has engraved on them : 

Anno 1684, den 3 October 
heeft Maria Baddia aen de Kerke 
Van Bruekelen Lervert een 
Zilvert beecker om het 
Aboutinael mjt Te Delen. 

This Maria Baddia, sometimes called Mary Thomas, was married 
first to Jacob Vanden or Verden ; second to William Adrianse Bennett, 
and third to Paulus Vanderbeck. She was admitted as a member of 
this Church September 27, 1662, as Marritie Baddia, nee Bennett, nee 
Thomas, wife of Paulus Vanderbeck. 



15 



HISTORY OF THE PASTORS. 

We have given in the former part of this history the account of Rev. 
Johannes Theodoras Polhemus and of the Rev. Henry Selyns, who 
were pastors from 1654 to 1676. 

In 1676, Rev. William Nieawenhuysen was invited to supply this 
pulpit, which he did for one year. 

In 1677, the Collegiate Church of Kings County extended a call to the 
Rev. Casparus Van Zuren, from Holland, and who was installed on the 
6th of September, at Flatbush, and supplied them until 1685, when he 
returned to Holland. 

Rev. Randolphus Van Varick was the next pastor, from 1685 to 
1694. During the Licslerian troubles in 1689, Mr. Varick, with other 
ministers, stood out against the authority of Licsler, and were treated 
with much harshness, being dragged from their homes, cast into jail, 
deposed from the ministry and fined heavily. These severities un- 
doubtedly hastened his death. He was succeeded by Rev, William 
Lupardus, whose ministry v/as terminated by death in 1701 or 2. 

Rev. Vincentius Antonides was installed in the Church at Flatbush 
January i, 1705. 

Rev. Bernardus Freeman, of Schenectady, was also called in 1705, 
and installed in the Church at New Utrecht. 

Mr. Freeman died in 1741, and Mr. Antonides died in 1744. Mr. 
Freeman's successor in 1742 was Rev. Johannes Arondeusfrom Rotter- 
dam, who seemed to have possessed a contumacious spirit and to have 
led an irregular life. He quarreled with his colleague, Mr. Van Sin- 
deren, very soon after his arrival, and in May, 1747, went off secretly, 
and was deposed from the ministry in 1752. 

In 1746, Rev. Ulpiames Van Sinderan, a native of Holland, was call- 
ed. He, by request of his Consistory, resigned in 1784, and died in 
1796, receiving his salary from the several churches until his death in 
1796. 

Rev. Antoneus Curtenius was called as colleague to Mr. Van Sin- 
deren May 2, 1755, and died October, 1756. 



i6 

In 1757, Rev. Johannes Casparus Rubell, of Hesse Castell in Ger- 
many, was called over the churches of Kings County. He was a de- 
cided Loyalist, while Mr. Van Sinderen was a Whig, so that the two 
pastors were in decided opposition to each other. He was deposed 
from the ministry in 1784. 

Rev, Martinus Schoonmaker was licensed to preach in 1763, and was 
called to the churches of Harlaem and Gravesend. In 1781 he accepted 
a call to the churches of Gravesend, Success and VVolver Hollow. Dur- 
ing the war he preached for the Collegiate Churches of Kings County 
part of the time, but becoming suspected as a spy by it being known 
that he was carrying letters from Harlem where he lived, and where the 
American army were encamped, over to Long Island to their families. 
They resolved to surround the house where he was staying, but the 
Consistory also found it out, and held a meeting after the service, and 
warned him in time, so that lie escaped by way of the Narrows to reach 
his own home at Harlem. After the British took Harlem, his house 
and all his effects were destroyed by them ; he escaped to Ulster Coun- 
ty- 
After the closing of the war, in 1 784 he was called to the six churches 
of Kings County, where he continued until his death, which occurred 
on the 20th of May, 1824, aged 87 years, having been in the ministry 
61 years. His successor says of him : " His labors were arduous, yet he 
was never known to faint in the Master's cause, and few men have gone 
to the grave with a character more unblemished." 

Rev. Peter Lowe was called as colleague to Mr. Schoonmaker, Octo- 
ber 28, 1787, to preach in the English language, in which he continued 
for twenty-one years, until the collegiate connection was dissolved, 
when he accepted the call from the churches of Flatbush and Flat- 
lands, where he continued until his death, which occurred on June, 
1818. 

On the 24th October, 1802, the Rev. John B. Johnson, of Albany, 
was installed as pastor of the Church in Brooklyn. While in Albany 
he was invited by both houses of the Legislature to preach the funeral 
sermon on the death of Gen. Washington, which he did on the 2 2d of 
February, 1800. His health, somewhat impaired before he left Albany, 



17 

began to fail rapidly, and the loss of his wife in March, 1803, undoubt- 
edly hastened his own death, which occurred in August, 1803. 

He was succeeded in 1806 by the Rev. Selah Strong VVoodhull, 
born in New York August 4, 1786, graduated at Yale College in 1802, 
was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of New Brunswick in 1805, 
was settled first at Bound Brook, N. J., and was called to this Church 
in 1806. During his pastorate here this Church secured its incorpora- 
tion on the i8th of December, 1814 ; during this year he held the 
appointment of Chaplain in the army of the United States, in connec- 
tion with the war with Great Britain. In 1820, he was appointed Sec- 
retary of the American Bible Society, when he became widely known, 
and held the office until he gave up his pastoral charge. In Septem- 
ber, 1825, he was chosen by the General Synod to the Professorship of 
Ecclesiastical History and Pastoral Theology of the Theological Semi- 
nary at New Brunswick, and at the same time was appointed by the 
Trustees of Rutgers College to a Professorship of Metaphysics and 
the Philosophy of the Human Mind. He was an indefatigable stu- 
dent, and at his death he had fifty-two sermons written that he had 
never preached. After great suffering he died P'ebruary 27, 1826, in 
the fiftieth year of his age. 

Rev. Ebenezer Mason, son of the Rev. John M. Mason, of New 
York, was called to succeed Dr. Woodhull, and was installed in June, 
1826. In consequence of some disagreement with his Consistory in 
regard to baptism he resigned his charge in April, 1828. 

Rev. Peter P. Rouse succeeded Mr. Mason. He was born in Cats- 
kill, N. Y., 29th March, 1799 ; studied at Union College where he 
graduated in 1818, and from the Theological Seminary at New Bruns- 
wick in 182 1. He was first settled at Florida, Montgomery County, 
N. Y., where he remained until the Fall of 1828, when he was called to 
this Church and was installed October 13 of that year. His religious 
character was of a high order, which made him very successful in the 
ministry, and he had large accessions to his Church. 

He was an excellent pastor ; he would, when sick, leave his bed, if 
able, to go and minister to any one who he heard was sick. In 1834, 
while praying at the bedside of a sick parishioner, he was seized with 
a copious hemorrhage of the lungs, and died in June of that year, at 



i8 

New Brunswick, N. J. His remains were brought to Brooklyn. The 
General Synod were in session in New York City at that time. They 
appointed a committee to attend his funeral. 

He was succeeded by the Rev. Maurice W. Dwight, grandson of 
President Edwards, of Northampton, Mass. ; born May 4, 1796 ; 
graduated at Columbia College in 1816, and studied theology at the 
New Brunswick Seminary, and was licensed to preach in 182 1 ; settled 
first at Waterford, N. Y., afterward at New Hackensack, Dutchess 
County, and was called and installed as pastor of this Church May 26, 
1833. He was a thorough student, and never entered the pulpit with- 
out a sermon complete in every respect. He continued here a long 
time, but resigned May i, 1855, and continued to reside in the congre- 
gation, and supplied the pulpit when necessary until his death, which 
occurred in 1859. 

Rev. Acman P. Van Giesen was called and installed November i, 
1855. His health was not good, and he was permitted to make a trip 
to the South, and resigned in November, 1859. 

Rev. Alphonso A. Willets succeeded Mr. Van Giesen, and was in- 
stalled June, i860. He was a successful preacher, and drew large au- 
diences, and resigned June i, 1865. 

Rev. Joseph Kimball followed Mr. Willets and was installed Novem- 
ber 21, 1865. He was called from the Reformed Dutch Church of 
Fishkill Landing, on the Hudson. His characteristics as a preacher 
were earnestness and simplicity, with the good old methods of expound- 
ing the Gospel. In May, 1874, while preaching the fortieth anniver- 
sary of the laying of corner stone of this church, he was stricken in the pul- 
pit with vertigo, and had to be taken to the parsonage. He was afterwards 
removed to Newburgh, his native place, where he died December 6, 
1874. Rev. Henry R. Dickson was called from the Church of York, 
South Carolina, and installed October 28, 1875, and died March 8, 1877. 

The present pastor, Rev. David N. Vanderveer, D. D., was installed 
September 15, 1878. 



19 



CHURCHES FORMED FROM THE FIRST REFORMED 
DUTCH CHURCH. 

In 1827 the Second, or Central Reformed Dutch Church (now the 
Church on the Heights) was formed. A large portion of the families 
came from this Church at its organization. 

In 1838 the South Dutch Church was organized, taken entirely from 
this Church ; at least thirty or forty families, substantial farmers, who 
came in their large wagons (always full), left to form that Church. 
Dr. Dwight said he felt as if his right arm had been taken off. 

In 1842, when the South Church bought the Fourth Presbyterian, 
then a large number of families left to connect with is now the Twelfth 
Street Church. 

In 1840 the Fourth Church was organized, which was afterward dis- 
solved, but was bought by the Presbyterians, and is now the Franklin 
Avenue Presbyterian Church ; quite a number of families from this 
Church united in its organization. 

In 1846 the Middle Reformed Church, now Harrison Street, was 
organized, mostly from this Church. 

In 1847 the Missionary Board appointed the Rev. Mr. Thompson 
to labor as Missionary in the vicinity of Clinton and Washington ave- 
nues. A division soon took place, when those who favored the Dutch 
Church commenced in a small building on Washington avenue, from 
which came the organization of the North Reformed Dutch Church, 
which was afterward the Church of which the Rev. A. Elmendorf was 
pastor. A large number of families left the First Church to form the 
new organization. 

In 1853 the East Reformed Dutch Church was organized, which is 
now the Bedford Church ; a number of families being those from Bedford 
was connected with it. 



20 

In 1853 the Lee Avenue Church. The corner-stone was laid by 
Hon. B. D. Silliman, and which was dedicated by Rev. Dr. Bethune ; 
its first members came from this Church. 

In 1856 the Church at East Williamsburgh was formed ; a portion of 
its members came from this the first Church. 

At least nine or ten churches have been taken from this Church, so 
that it can be truly said this (First Reformed Dutch Church) has been 
the Mother of Churches. 



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